The two men who died apparently had a gun when they entered the home about 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, Brentwood police Lt. Walter O’Grodnick said. Police, pending notification of relatives, would only identify them Thursday evening as Antioch residents in their thirties.

The shooter lived at the home in the 200 block of Birch Street and he was detained, then released, O’Grodnick said.

“The preliminary information shows it to be a home-invasion robbery,” O’Grodnick said. “Two suspects. One with a firearm. They presented a threat, and the shooting was prompted in self-defense.”

The home is 100 yards from Edna Hill Middle School.

One bullet also pierced a gas meter on the side of the home, and Pacific Gas & Electric crews responded, along with eight firefighters and a battalion chief, Battalion Chief Ross Macumber of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said.

Neighbor Reggie Nichols said Thursday morning that he heard two shots, followed by a flurry of gunfire.

“I’m ticked off, because this kind of stuff doesn’t happen around here,” Nichols said. “It’s a good neighborhood. It’s been a really long time since something like this.”

Brentwood police were investigating the fatal shooting of two men Wednesday night at a home in the 200 block of Birch Street. (Rick Hurd/Staff)

It was the first time in more than five years that Brentwood — a city with lower crime rates than many in East Contra Costa — has seen a slaying. The city’s most recent killing was in March 2012, and was ruled a murder-suicide involving a married couple.

Nichols said he saw a strange car near the corner of Second and Birch streets that took off after the shooting.

Brentwood police are handling the investigation and would not comment any further. Anyone with information should call the department’s investigative division at 925-809-7911 or Detective Eric Huesman at 925-809-7735.

Staff writer Nate Gartrell contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.

George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy.